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TERRAS: We must aim high, insists Matthews

NOW that his position at the helm has been cemented, Jason Matthews is urging the Terras to shoot for the stars.

Seven points from four games during his spell as caretaker may have been enough to earn him the job on a permanent basis, but he is well aware that a lot more needs to be done to turn the club’s season around.

The Paulton-born player-manager told Echosport: “Between now and the end of the season we must aim as high as we can.

“The reaction the rest of the players gave me when I first took caretaker charge gave me a real buzz and I am really excited about the challenge of taking it forward now on a permanent basis.

“An opportunity like this at such a big club doesn’t come along very often and I guarantee the fans that I will be doing everything I can to make a success of it.

“One thing is for sure, I won’t be settling for second best.”

The veteran goalkeeper went on to add: “I know there will be a lot of difficult decisions to make but I am excited about the challenge.

“I have been told all the directors at the club voted for me to take the job permanently, which is nice to know, and I want to repay their faith in me.

“Even if I only take it through to the end of the season, it’s a privilege to be given the oppor-tunity, and, as I said, I will be doing the best I can.

“I have a lot of my own ideas that I want to install and hopefully together we can get this club moving back up the table.

“I will be sitting down with the board next Saturday at 11.30am and we will just take it from there.”

Further changes on the playing front look a certainty along with a new face in the dugout.

Matthews, who went on a scouting mission to Bath City on Saturday, continued: “I will be bringing in my own assistant and there will be changes in personnel too.

“I know how I want us to play and I am looking to bring in a number two that shares those beliefs.

“I am hoping to have some more news on that soon.”

When asked whether playing and managing will be a problem for him, the 38-year-old added: “At first, I wasn’t sure, but I have been very impressed with what Paul Maitland (pictured right) and others have done since I took over, and that, along with the reaction of the players, has given me a lot of confidence.

“Everyone has backed me and that has given me even more of a hunger to do well.”

Matthews has arguably been the club’s most consistent player this season and if his recent performances are anything to go by, combining the two jobs should not be a concern.

The Terras currently sit 15th in the Calor Southern Premier Division but are just six points adrift of the top eight, with games in hand on all but four of the teams above them.

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